For the Record – Central Virginia, April 2013

Texas-based Blue Bell Ice Cream will serve markets through distribution operations in Richmond and Suffolk. From these locations, Blue Bell will serve a total population of nearly 2.5 million that includes Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, all of Hampton Roads and Elizabeth City and Nags Head in northeastern North Carolina. The Richmond branch will have a staff of 15 to 20 employees, and the Suffolk transfer station will have a staff of eight to 10 employees.
(VirginiaBusiness.com)

Cox Media Group will sell four of its Richmond radio stations to Summit Media. Stations to be sold are 103.7 The River (WURV), Hot 100.9 (WHTI), K95 Richmond (WKHK) and Rock 96.5 (WKLR). According to industry website Inside Radio, Summit Media is a newly formed group led by former Heftel Broadcasting executive Carl Parmer and 16-year Cox Birmingham market manager David DuBose. The sales are expected to close during the second quarter after receiving regulatory approval. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Health Diagnostic Laboratory Inc. is giving $4 million to the Virginia Commonwealth University athletics department as part of a partnership to enhance athletics facilities. The partnership will make each of the university’s athletic facilities part of an HDL, Inc. Athletic Village. The March announcement came just a week after a $3 million pledge by MeadWestvaco Corp.  to help build a $14 million to $16 million basketball practice complex next to the Siegel Center, site of the VCU home basketball games.
(Richmond Times-Dispatch)

The University of Virginia will build a 30,000-square-foot, $25-million medical center building in Charlottesville. University officials outlined plans for the structure, which will be called the Education Resource Center. It also will house an outpatient pharmacy and imaging center. The project is one of the final pieces of massive renovation and construction at the U.Va. Medical Center. (The Daily Progress)

U.Va. ranked as No. 1 among public colleges in the nation by the Princeton Review’s “2013 Best Value Colleges” list. The annual rankings are based on data collected from fall 2011 through fall 2012. The criteria used in the rankings include affordability, academics and financial aid. The Princeton Review chooses 150 colleges each year as “Best Value” colleges. (Examiner.com)

The Virginia Biosciences Health Research Corp. (VBHRC) has been formed to increase the commonwealth’s standing in life sciences. The VBHRC will be funded at $5 million for 2013-14 from the state’s general fund. There will be five founding schools: Eastern Virginia Medical School, George Mason University, U.Va., Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Tech. An 11-member project management and oversight panel also will be recruited. VBHRC is currently seeking a president/CEO who will report directly to the board of directors. (News release)

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Richmond for a new $10 million summer training camp for the Washington Redskins. The facility is being built as part of an economic development deal between the city and Bon Secours Richmond Health System. Bon Secours agreed to be the major sponsor of the training camp. In exchange for $6.4 million in naming rights and lease fees, the city of Richmond will lease a former school site to Bon Secours for an expansion of its nearby St. Mary’s Hospital. (VirginiaBusiness.com)